6 Natural Remedies for Treating Bee Stings

  Try these natural remedies to treat bee stings next time you get stung:

Ladies, I need to share a secret. I am extremely terrified of bees. Just recently I was in an intersection  with the Greek (my boyfriend), and a bee just decided to get all up in my face. I ran over to the Greek to hide behind him while stuck in the median on a green light, and the stinkin’ bee came right onto my shorts. I cried.

Yes. I cried because there was a bee on my shorts.

I mean what if it went up my shorts and stung where bee stings should never happen..

Sometimes it’s just inevitable…you’re outside at a picnic, playground, outdoor cafe, grabbing for something out of site and BAM you get stung!  It hurts like heck and a little scary too for kids. After you’ve scraped out the stinger (a credit card works great for this), you need to treat the sting and soothe the pain.  I was surprised to find that male bees usually can’t sting and there are also species of “stingless” bees that don’t have stingers at all.  Honeybees have “barbed” stingers which causes them to die after stinging since part of their abdomen is pulled out when they fly away – gross.

Be aware of the possibility of being allergic to bee stings which can cause “anaphylactic” shock, swelling and in some cases can lead to death.  If you’ve been stung and start having spasms and swelling, then seek medical attention immediately!

Most natural pain remedies have not been evaluated or backed up by scientific research and often there’s limited, if any, information available online about their effectiveness.  Usually these homegrown remedies are passed down from generation to generation, in various forms, and continue to increase in popularity.  Why?  Maybe because they just might work in some cases? You be the judge.

Here are 6 Natural remedies for Treating Bee stings (after cleaning the area as best you can);

Baking Soda Paste – Why? Sodium bicarbonate is the ingredient that makes baking soda popular for nixing the pain associated with stings.  Mix water with the baking soda to form a paste and generously apply to sting.  Leave on.

Chilled Witch Hazel – Why? Because witch hazel contains anti-inflammatory properties that help with itching, swelling and soothing the painful area.

Freshly cut surface of an Onion – Why? Because onions have enzymes that counteract the painful effects of the sting. This would be a great go-to remedy that you can easily pack on a camping trip or picnic.

Ice  – Why?  Because frozen water will numb the painful area and reduce swelling by reducing blood flow.  Apply ice for 15 to 20 minutes.

Meat Tenderizer – Why? Because the active ingredient in meat tenderizer is the enzyme “papain” which comes from papaya.

Toothpaste – Why? Because of the alkaline nature of toothpaste; and many toothpastes also contain glycerine.  Both supposedly contribute to drying out, and neutralizing, the bee venom.  

It’s also a good idea to carry a small tube of antibiotic ointment in your glove compartment or purse for stings and bites…especially when you have no other options available right at the time.

We’d love to know if you have any natural home remedies for treating Bee stings or insect bites!  Please share.

 (photo source: Flickr User Nigel Jones)

Disclaimer: These natural remedies are for informational purposes only.  Balanced Babe does not promote their effectiveness.  It’s always best to consult with your health practitioner or research their efficacy.